JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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- English Instructor (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe)
- Berlitz Japan, Inc. (ベルリッツ・ジャパン株式会社), Kansai
- Salary: ¥125,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month
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- FT English Teachers for Kids - Osaka
- Kohgakusha Co., Ltd. （株式会社興学社）, Osaka
- Salary: ¥255,000 ~ ¥275,000 / Month Travel Expenses, Encouragement of Japanese learning*
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- Translator
- ZAIHON, Inc. (日本財務翻訳株式会社), Tokyo
- Salary: ¥6.0M / Year Negotiable
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tkoind2
Glad to see the republican supporters are just as in the dark as they have been the past eight years. Denial is a powerful thing isn't it.
Chimpsahead. From an American worker's point of view those dangerous European socialists have a lot going that we are starting to think looks pretty good. Like healthcare for everyone. And proper educational systems. And an infrastructure that has been kept up. And labor laws that protect them. And working weeks/hours that make sense. And long annual holidays.
See while the right is trying to fighten people with 1980s cold war era "fear the liberals" tag lines, the rest of the world has moved on. In the 21st century we think about how to educate our kids, have some semblance of work/life balance and labor protections. We think about having rationally priced and accessible health care.
While the right goes on and on about fear, war, terror, dangerous liberals and other out dated non-sense.
But I encourage you to keep up the anti-liberal propaganda. Because more and more normal working class people in America are waking up to just how out of touch McCain and the whole conservative movement in America is to the very real and very serious problems most people face.
Defeat is coming for McCain and the Republican way of thinking. Get ready for it.
Posted in: Obama says McCain equals 4 more years of Bush
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tkoind2
OssanULTRA. Maybe too late to move it. But not too late to just forget the whole thing.
Posted in: China reneges on Internet freedom during Olympics
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tkoind2
Shock and dismay!!!
Did anyone really expect China to revolutionize her political, social and human rights policies just because the Olympics were awarded? After granting Beijing the rights to host, what exactly could the IOC or anyone else have done to force China to keep their promises? All China had to do was play along until it was too late. Which is exactly what they did.
So 10 points to China for playing the rest of the planet like a piano. 10 points to corporations for seeing only profits and opportunities to keep making money there. And 10 points to those supporting the Olympics for supporting the next worst example since the Berlin Nazi hosted games.
Sadly no points for the Chinese peasants who will go on suffering losses thanks to the games. No points for farmers and people pushed off their land to make way for development. No points for people hoping to have a little more freedom. No points for the press or media who will be herded around to where the state wants them to be. No points for Uyghurs, Tibetans and others who will carry on being oppressed. No points for freedom, liberty or human rights at all.
Are't we tired of oppressive states and greedy companies winning all the points while the vast majority of other people are ignored or suffering?
Boycot the Olypics. Don't watch it, don't buy sponsored products, don't encourage it and spread the word to boycot it and send China a message that we see through their veneer.
Posted in: China reneges on Internet freedom during Olympics
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tkoind2
McCain does equal more of the same general attitude towards both domestic and international policy. It is a valid point and I think a lot of people can see that.
McCain is as out of touch as Bush but perhaps a little less likely to make a mockery of the presidence as much as George has.
Obama is talking about and focuse on the right solutions. More global cooperation to address problems, more attention to domestic economics, a reversal of the repressive policies implemented by the right wing Bush camp and a younger more energetic and populist approach to governance.
It is time for change and people know it. Just may take McCain a little longer to realize he has already lost.
Posted in: Obama says McCain equals 4 more years of Bush
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tkoind2
YES!!!!
We are tired of the fear mongering right in the US. People want change and Obama represents that change. McCain will not be able to stand that tide of public sentiment long.
Obama represents an opportunity to clean up the mess GWB has created. And I think people want that. So time to retire the right guard for a long time.
Posted in: Obama says he'll order review of executive orders
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tkoind2
Japan is suffering a national mental health crisis and has no structure to address it. Psychological care here still carries a strong stigma and the resources available are very limited.
There are many reasons for this mental health crisis. Some obvious causes are: 1. Overwork and work stress 2. Lack of work/life balance 3. Lack of protection against work related abuse and ill treatment. 4. Increasing number of working poor. 5. Increasing economic and financial strains. 6. Diminished employment security and stability. 7. Social pressure to suppress stress rather than seek positive outlets for it. 8. Declining social fabric and increasing alienation and isolation of individuals in Japanese society. 9. Increasing number of people who are disenfrancised. 10. Declining interpersonal interaction as more and more people turn to computers, cell phones and media rather than social connections.
How to fix it? 1. Address labor laws to improve working conditions and employee protections. 2. Legislate and enforce work life balance measures. 3. Improve mental health care awareness and information sharing with the public. 4. Provide a stronger mental health care structure and system with better resources for people to turn to. 5. Fund and support more community and neighborhood outreach and other programs to get people reconnected with communities. 6. Teach employers and others how to recognize danger signs. 7. Don't ignore the problem. Resolve it.
economics and the rising number of working poor, long hours for overworked employees and t
Posted in: What do you think is causing the recent spate of random stabbings in Japan and how can society address the problem?
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tkoind2
It is not the US that is the problem. It is US policy and leadership. Relative to many places in the world the US is still quite free. But we cannot rest upon a past of relative freedom. We have to continue to protect and advocate improvement for liberty and freedom. Bush, his administration and his policies have been an enemy of that objective.
I am sure that many refugees and political exiles do go to Canada, Australia, NZ, nations in the UE, the UK and other destinations. The US does not have an exclusive claim on being a haven for the oppressed in the modern world. Just because people flee to relative safety does not make the destination somehow a perfect paradise.
Posted in: Bush vows to take 'message of freedom' to Beijing
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tkoind2
Altria: JT thinks that real criticism and feedback is inflamitory. But depends upon the Moderator's personal political bend I think.
Posted in: Bush vows to take 'message of freedom' to Beijing
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tkoind2
Surge, my apologies. I see your real meaning now.
Honestly I don't like how upset this Texan makes me feel. But the facts are I can't help but see how much damage he has done and at what cost. The key now is just what will it take to undo it all.
As for China. I know many people around me who will boycot the Olympics both by not going and by not watching. Beyond that many are refusing to buy products by Olympic sponsors. To take it one step farther I hope during the Olympics we continue to raise the issues that China wants us to ignore. 1. Their repression of minorities such as the Uyghurs. 2. Tibet, 3. Human rights violtions. 4. Repressive policies on religion, speech and association. 5. Ongoing threats against Taiwan. and more.
Posted in: Bush vows to take 'message of freedom' to Beijing
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tkoind2
If a president violates rights at home, how can he advocate rights abroad? Is this an inflamitory question?
Posted in: Bush vows to take 'message of freedom' to Beijing
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tkoind2
"What would GWB know about freedom? This man has done more damage to personal liberty, due process, human rights and individual freedom than any president in American history. His Patriot Act was a direct insult to the principles of the constitution and his blatant disregard for human rights in carrying out torture and rendition put him on the same level as nations like China.
Bush should be considered a war criminal for his violation of the Geneva convention and for his lies that led to the Iraq war. He has no more right to talk about liberty than the Chinese.
Moderator: Please refrain from posting inflammatory messages such as this.
Posted in: Bush vows to take 'message of freedom' to Beijing
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tkoind2
People are afraid of seeing women be confident about their bodies. And even more so of women being confident in their sexuality. In a society that wants male domination, women deciding to be bold must make these guys pretty nervous.
I don't mind the current fashion. Can be a nice distraction on a bad day to see a stunning beauty. A lot nicer than the sweating salaryman who has to turn the aircon to 18 to balance out his penguin suit. I'd like to see more individual and free dress within that unhappy looking segment of society.
Posted in: Young women’s summer fashions show too much, poll reveals
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tkoind2
The whole Temp worker situation is long term harmful for workers. They need to do more to protect the welfare of temp workers who work for long periods too.
Posted in: Gov't eyes banning dispatch of temp staff for jobs of 30 days or less
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tkoind2
When the Mongols were poised on the edge of Europe the pope at that time proclaimed that the end of the world was at hand. A couple decades ago people said the EU represented the fatal government predicted in Revelations.
Every generation has its share of nut cases who are pointing to signs and predicting the advent of the end. They call on mystical arial dieties and point at devils in the underworld. Anything but face the real tangible reality of what can be done to sort out the world as it really is.
You want dark signs just open your eyes and you can see them. But if you want to do something about them, close your ancient text books and start thinking in the here and now.
Corporations are taking too much power from the people and have far too much control in the political process. Every day people are becoming less and less able to exert political or social influence. And labor is rapidly becoming a comodity that will undervalue everyone's efforts.
This is not the work of the devil. This is the work of greedy corporations and their stock holders who demand year on year massive increases in profit percentages. They don't care about social issues, they don't care about communities or people. They care about money. This is not evil in the mystical sense. This is good old fashioned pure human evil. No gods required.
You want change, then target these people and demand more political control over them. Because they are the ones who threaten national power as well as public political power. But we are their consumers and their workers. If we fight back, we win. But we must learn to fight back together.
Posted in: Religious right AWOL from the real war
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tkoind2
ByakkoDono. I agree. Religion and supestitions allow human beings to blame something other than themselves for the world around them.
I hear "Well it's God's will." When something bad happens. When we should be saying "What can we do to help?"
And all this is even before we start to talk about the dividing lines that religion and superstitions bring to people. History is filled with wars ravaging lives in the name of some god or divine purpose. There has been and continues to be repression and oppression of faith over people.
Religion is historically evil and intrusive. Blaming the Devil is just an excuse. And Holy Causes are among the most unholy things in human history.
Human beings should take sole responsibility for the state of the planet and what we do here during our lives. It is a cheap escape from reality to blame devils and gods for what we can and cannot control.
Posted in: Religious right AWOL from the real war
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tkoind2
It is sad that it has to be such a black and white question. Marrige or a life alone.
More people, men and women should be thinking about how the approach partnership here. Why can't a woman have an independent life, career, pursue her own interests and still be a good partner to someone. Why can't a mad do the same? And as a couple why can't they love each other and share a life together without oppressing each other?
I believe very strongly that a couple made up of two people who respect each other as individuals as well as people in a rellationship can build something that works. Especially if they are doing so when older.
But it requires that people lay out the terms of their relationship by talking and understanding each other's ideas and limitations. Then if they choose to pursue a life together based on that outcome, it could work.
I have friends at home with very open and mutually respectful lives. They don't smother each other, they respect each other, they are equals and they love and take care of each other too.
Time to think outside the box a little. Men here are worried too. Time to start a dialogue and make some changes to how relationships function in Japan. The black and white option just isn't viable any more.
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tkoind2
Where did you guys get this article? It reads like some reactionary conspiracy plot from some of those extreme right wing sites. It is looking at some of the right trees but missing the forest in any case.
First off there is no Devil trying to undermine good by removing our national sovereignty. And there is no evil plot to make that happen.
What is going on is a shift from political to commercial control of power and influence. Corporations have led the way towards globalization and towards the removal of boundaries to enable trade. And to bolster bottom lines. They exert more influence than most governments and in the end they weild considerable power within all governments to achieve their agendas.
What has happened is that the ordinary populace world wide is no longer represented by political bodies that support their best interests. Instead the interests of a globalized economy are at the forefront of policy and governments are focused there.
So if you are looking for devils and a place to focus your Christian battle, look no further than the nearest boardroom.
Christ and whatever other dieties aside, we are looking at a very serious ethnical question that exists for all us whether into dieties or not. That question is who in this world should have the highest priority for political and economic power? Should corporations? Should governments? Should religious groups?
I believe that the answer is that everyday normal people should have political and economic power and should the focus of government attention and their primary beneficiaries. Likewise grassroots political and economic needs should take precidence over the ambitions of corporations. This is especially true when the future holds a world of damaged environment and diminished fuel availability.
It makes sense to reverse the globalization trend in the sense that it is unsustainable. An economic model that is more locally centered makes sense when fuel is scarce and resources must be developed locally. It also makes sense in a world where the environment comes first and where we move away from the rabid consumerism we've held on to the last 70 years or so and return to a more rational non-consumer lifestyle.
Yet at the same time a greater sense of global human unity makes sense. Even if this means bypassing or reducing the influence of nationalism. We should be more cooperative to address our interdependent issues such as declining oil supplies and the environment. We should be working for higher global human rights and liberties standards. This kind of globalization and diminished local sovereignty serves humanity in a morally sound and positive manner. Where isoliationism and nationalism have long proven to be "evil" in that they are often exploited to keep others out or to oppress.
We have long lived under the oppression of nationalism and of organized religion and the constant conflicts it brings to our society. Both are excusionary ideologies that undermine the necessary peace and unity that should be the moral focus of all people.
If you want to protect liberties and freedom, you must first address economic inequality and take back control of our political systems from the captains of industry to the people. Governments must be accountable to the needs and will of ordinary people. And we must move away from a model that undermines the environment and drives this endless and unsustainable consumerism.
In short. Make life more local economically and socially. Return political power to the people. And at the same time work to build stronger interconnections that transcend borders, faiths and ideologies to help raise the global standards of political and social freedom.
That is where your battle truly is, both morally and practically.
Posted in: Religious right AWOL from the real war
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tkoind2
Agreed this makes me angry. There are a lot of people in the world who would nearly kill for that wasted water to stay alive. This doesn't help the temperature, wastes water and shows flagrant disregard for conservation.
Agreed, plant some trees, grass and brush to help things. Turn down the aircons and stop over hearting the city with their exhaust. And let people go home earlier in the day and chill out at home outside the city where most workers live anyway.
Posted in: Roppongi
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tkoind2
sk4ek. Wonderful post. I can agree with you whole heartedly.
Posted in: Popular novel on Marxism draws young people to communist party
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tkoind2
A policy of reaching out to problem states is the right policy. This cowboy, shoot your way to peace approach by Bush and his right winger buddies has failed. And has cost us a lot of money that would have been better spent sorting out US infrastructure and economic growth.
A war with Iran would be a disaster for everyone involved. Iran knows this. The intelligent members of our government know this. And thankfully Obama must know this as well. We just do not have the band width and resources to go to war with anyone. I mean think about it, the Taliban are still a threat and these guys are midieval. Iran is not and would pose a much harder to suppress challenge than Iraq and Afghanistan combined. Not to mention the wide spread fear and anger it would cause in other Muslim states.
Obama has the right idea. And in the end it is cheaper to pay tax dollars to business and development projects in Iran than to fun a war there. And the value of the lives on both sides that would be spared are beyond a dollar value.
I'm voting for Obama and looking for a leader brave enough to talk rather than hide behind some inflated militaristic ego trip like the idiot in office today.
Posted in: Obama defends plans for direct talks with Iran